Break-In? Here's What You Should Do

August 25th, 2019

Break-ins are not something you want ever to have to experience, but they do happen. They also don't happen the way you would typically see on television or in the movies. Most burglars are there to steal items of value, and most of the time, are not interested in causing you any harm. However, you never know what a burglar may be thinking, so it is always better to be safe.

Below, we have the steps you should take during a break-in.

Your Evacuation Plan

You should always have some kind of evacuation plan in place for any catastrophe that can occur. For example, you should have a designated meeting spot or have someone assigned to be in charge of certain things.

The same applies to a break-in. Come up with a plan of action before anything actually happens, so you are better prepared. Check out each room of the house to see how easy it would be to escape and get outside.

Be Quiet

If the burglary happens while you and your family are in the home, you need to remain calm and refrain from making any kind of noise to alert the burglar that you are home. You don't want to draw any attention to yourself and potentially bring harm to you and your family.

Go to the nearest room that has a door and gently close and lock it. You can then carefully listen to help you determine what your next step should be.

Call 911

Of course, this is something you want to do right away. Always make sure your cell phone is charged and near you at all times. When you make the call, remain quiet and calmly give the operator your name and address and inform them that an intruder is in the home.

You should then listen and try to pick up on any other details that would be helpful for Akron law enforcement. For example, how many intruders are there, are they male or female, etc.

Choices

The operator may also ask if you are able to safely leave the home. After you have taken some time to listen and pick up any details you can, you should also determine where the burglar is in the home. This will help you determine if there is any possible way for you and your family to safely leave the home unnoticed.

If you can't safely escape, stay in the locked room on the phone until the police arrive. When they do get on scene, inform the operator that help has arrived.

The most important thing to remember during a break-in is to stay calm and as quiet as possible. You want to keep a clear head so you can follow all these steps without drawing any attention to yourself or your family.

You can also invest in a Akron home security system as well. It will notify you and the authorities if there is a break-in so you can have more immediate response times and get help much sooner.